England v Pakistan 2020.

[Durhamfootman]

148 seemingly... that's 2005 ashes pace

Buttlerfingers reaches his century, so well done him

Creepy is inching his way slowly to his own target

[Arthur Crabtree]

Approaching a 250 stand. Pretty demoralising for Pakistan.

Can't imagine England will leave out Pope. They'll either keep JB2 as keeper or bat him at six and leave out Burns.

[Durhamfootman]

200 up for Creepy

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, great moment for him. Apart from the complete absence of a crowd of course.

[alfie]

The Zac & Jos show rolls on...399/4

Wonder at what point England might feel they have enough and would fancy a bowl at Pakistan ? 500 perhaps.

Depends how keen they are to finish the series with a win I suppose . A draw secures a series victory and it's been ten years since they've had one against Pakistan. I do hope they will push for a result.

[DiligentDefence]

Not often you see quadruple Nelson 444/4

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder how many runs England will allow Crawley to score before they declare.

[sussexpob]

I guess this is what happens when you force a team to play 15 days of test cricket in 20 odd with zero competitive warm ups, after half the squad tested positive for covid

Pakistan haven't turned up this test. They've bowled abjectly

[Durhamfootman]

Declaration comes with the fall of Broad 583-8

is there time for a few overs at Pakistan?

13 seemingly

who'd be an opening batsman? A tricky hour, with the risk of light failing, and after 2 full days in the field

[Arthur Crabtree]

The way the media are covering the light issue they'll have to play if the slips can't see each other.

[Durhamfootman]

who said that?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Every time I look at a cricket story there's an ex pro complaining when the players go off. The same ex players who used to go off when asked when they were playing. Usually it's Michael Vaughan. It's a kind of man of the people role.

[alfie]

England finishing in what might be termed a "strong" position.

In truth this rather limited , though admirably spirited , Pakistan side have been broken...a combination of the difficult touring conditions , shock of losing the apparently unloseable first game , and now being ground down relentlessly over two days in the field. Not really a surprise that wickets tumbled late in the day.

You'd think they'll find it hard to muster much of a recovery in this innings unless England take their foot off the pedal. May not be skittled ; but they aren't getting near the follow on target of 384. So it will really be a case of how much time is lost to the weather and how the England bowlers handle having to get twenty wickets without an innings in between. As long as they share the load sensibly this should not be too much for them...will be a while before they have to turn out again afterwards.

At the risk of taking too much for granted that will mean 4W 1L 1D from the home summer...a decent return. With some excellent performances from quite a variety of players , both established and relatively new. How much it will mean for the future is arguably somewhat tempered by doubts as to the quality of the opposition ; but you'd have to be a bit of a curmudgeon not to be encouraged by the way the team has continued with the improvements shown in SA . Living and training in this artificial bubble set up probably hasn't been altogether easy for them either.

Lord knows when the Test team will actually take the field next , given the ongoing issues of the pandemic. But at least we've been able to enjoy some cricket this year and for that I am grateful to all three teams and the organisers ...

[bigfluffylemon]

Good summary, alfie.

Am I alone in thinking England may not enforce the follow-on? I guess it depends how close Pakistan get to the target (i.e. how long the bowlers have to toil), but at 1-0 up in the series, I reckon there's a fair chance they'll bat again with anything less than 300 lead after the first innings, just to put the series beyond any doubt.

Adelaide 2006 says that there's always a chance, no matter how slim, that England lose this one...

[Gingerfinch]

Good summary, alfie.

Am I alone in thinking England may not enforce the follow-on? I guess it depends how close Pakistan get to the target (i.e. how long the bowlers have to toil), but at 1-0 up in the series, I reckon there's a fair chance they'll bat again with anything less than 300 lead after the first innings, just to put the series beyond any doubt.

Adelaide 2006 says that there's always a chance, no matter how slim, that England lose this one...

Pakistan batting in England is a lot different to Hayden/Ponting batting in Aus. With indifferent weather around, not enforcing the follow on would be madness, imo.